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APC alleges N13.7bn annual payroll fraud under Adeleke
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Party urges ICPC, EFCC to probe ghost worker claims
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Osun govt denies fraud, blames Oyetola administration
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to resign over an alleged N13.7 billion annual payroll fraud uncovered in the state’s civil service.
The allegation followed a staff audit reportedly conducted in 2023 by a consultancy firm engaged by the state government. The firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Sa’adat Bakrin-Ottun, allegedly disclosed that Osun State was paying N13,716,914,129.28 annually to ghost workers, with findings said to reveal widespread payroll irregularities.
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According to the report, a single individual allegedly received salaries meant for 5,615 ghost workers into one bank account.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo, APC Director of Media, Chief Kola Olabisi, speaking on behalf of the state chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, said the governor should step down.
“The people of Osun State deserve transparent, responsible, and accountable leadership. The N13.6 billion public fund being paid to ghost workers and syphoned by the friends of the governor can be judiciously used to give a good life to no fewer than 50,000 Osun youths,” Olabisi said.
The party also urged anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate the allegations and determine those culpable.
However, the Osun State Government dismissed the claims, accusing the APC of sponsoring the consultancy firm against the administration.
In a statement, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said there was no N13 billion payroll fraud. He maintained that verification of the audit report showed that more than two-thirds of those listed as ghost workers were legitimate staff with proper documentation.
The government further stated that Governor Adeleke initiated the audit to probe alleged payroll padding inherited from the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
“If there is any fraud, it is not that of Governor Adeleke but that of former Governor Oyetola, as the audited payroll was inherited from the Oyetola administration,” the statement read.